Montville public safety panel chairman: Put hiring flap in past

Thursday

Jan 27, 2011 at 12:01 AMJan 27, 2011 at 10:55 AM

Despite two months of public wrangling because Montville Mayor Joseph Jaskiewicz hired an animal control officer without consulting the Public Safety Commission first, its chairman says the issue won’t distract members from their duties.

Adam Benson

Despite two months of public wrangling because Montville Mayor Joseph Jaskiewicz hired an animal control officer without consulting the Public Safety Commission first, its chairman says the issue won’t distract members from their duties.

“I see this as a minor bump,” David Jetmore said Wednesday. “In fact, you’re going to see more energy from us, and more involvement.”

But commissioners are vowing to take action if a similar incident arises. At issue is a November decision by Jaskiewicz to hire Christian Martel as Montville’s new animal control officer.

He did not follow the Town Charter, which says the Public Safety Commission “shall recommend to the office of the mayor not fewer than three qualified candidates for each departmental vacancy. The mayor shall fill the vacancy from the recommended candidates.”

Jetmore said Martel’s hiring was the only time in his 10 years on the commission that protocol wasn’t followed.

Former official’s letter

The new round of discussions began after former Animal Control Officer Jane Greenwood wrote a sharply worded letter to the commission accusing Jaskiewicz of stalling on a replacement and blaming her for forcing officials to skirt the process.

Greenwood stepped down Oct. 29, but submitted a letter of retirement to Town Hall Sept. 21.

“I believe that six weeks was definitely adequate and more than fair of me to give,” she wrote. “I will not take the blame for anyone’s inadequacies in doing their job, or their poor time management skills.”

Commissioners said they don’t have an issue with Greenwood’s actions.

“Our issue is the fact that at no point in time were we brought in,” commissioner Russ Wehner said. “The problem is not her qualifications. It’s a much smaller issue that we have.”

Jaskiewicz, who publicly apologized for the flap, said he’s ready to see the commission move on as well.

“I already told them that it was a mistake on my part. I just think the issue should be over,” he said. “I didn’t want to get into this.”

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